It has been a slow start for the nearly two-year-old Sony PSP, but it is finally reaching its full potential with a large variety of games and media, as well as capabilities that complement the recently released Sony Playstation 3. But not everyone can afford to spend $500 on a PS3 just to get the most out of their PSP.

However, there are now affordable hardware modifications to boost PSP’s capabilities – such as PSP2TV.

PSP2TV by Team Xtender modifies the PSP to have true video output. While there are other products available that allow owners to play the PSP on a TV screen – such as the Nyko Play on TV Adaptor, Blaze TV Adaptor and the PSPonTV – they don’t quite do what the PSP2TV does.

These products are essentially just video cameras that attach to the PSP’s screen and send the video feed to a television. PSP2TV is the only modification that offers true video output for PSP. Basically, it’s a set of neatly-packaged wires that bypasses the video output to the PSP’s monitor. This allows you to send it to your TV.

Along with the main features, the PSP2TV comes with three replacement faceplates, S-Video and standard composite AV output support, battery-charging function through the docking station and my favorite feature, Sony Playstation 2 Dual Shock Controller support.

That’s right – a PS2 controller can be plugged into the docking station while playing PSP games and media on TV. The docking station also allows for quick switching between 4:3 full screen and 16:9 widescreen aspect ratios.

PSP2TV takes multiplayer gaming to the next level. Playing games such as Tekken: Dark Resurrection and Lumines, where both players can be viewed on one screen, allows for a nifty function of PSP2TV. One player can have his or her PSP docked into the station while playing on a TV with a PS2 controller, and another player can join the game and view it on the TV while using the second PSP as a wireless controller. Any dead pixels or other unfortunate malfunctioning that the PSP may have will not show up on the TV screen.

There are usually some negative aspects to a modification, and unfortunately, PSP2TV has its share. As fun as it is, this mod will void a PSP’s warranty. The video quality is better than that of any other product designed for PSP video output, but it could still be improved. There is a significant amount of pixelation that makes text in games very difficult to read.

Also, the docking station design makes connecting the PSP cumbersome. Because one is dealing with many tiny, intricate parts and screws, the actual installation of PSP2TV can be challenging if one is clumsy. Though there is no soldering involved, one mishap during installation can easily damage a PSP.

A complete installation video can be found online to supplement the instruction manual. The video was time lapsed and edited so that the entire installation is completed in less than 10 minutes. I worked at a fairly fast pace during my installation – which I don’t recommend – and I took nearly two and a half hours to complete it.

Despite the difficulty level involved, if installed correctly and handled with care, a PSP modified with PSP2TV has a very professional look.

PSP2TV ranges in price from $112.99-$119.99 and can be ordered at online stores such as modchipstore.com and consolesource.com. Expect this product to be back ordered, as it is quite popular at the moment.